Heat exchanger



c. s. SIMPELAAR HEAT EXCHANGER Aug. 5, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed 001;. 16, 1947 Clyde 5 Aug. 5, 1952 c. s. SIMPELAAR HEAT EXCHANGER 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 16, 1947 ug- 5, 1952 c. s. SIMPELAAR 2,606,007

HEAT EXCHANGER Filed Oct. 16, 1947 s Sheets-Sheet s fnz/enfor" (@622? j jim velacu" 615 3 I a a:

C. S. SIMPELAAR Aug. 5, 1952 HEAT EXCHANGER 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. '16, 1947 Aug. 5, 1952 c. s. SIMPELAAR HEAT EXCHANGER 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 16, 1947 6 @165 .5 impala a7 zv d g- 5, 1952 c; s. SIMPELAAR 2,606,007

HEAT EXCHANGER Filed Oct. 16. 1947 s Shets-Sheet 6 2 M 1 1 ar Zia Z425 24? $72 \2 inn m9 Patented Aug. 5, 1952 UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,606,007 v HEAT EXCHANGER V Clyde S. Simpelaar, Racine; Wis., assignor to Modin'e' Manufacturing Company, Racine, Wis., acorporationof Wisconsin Application October 16, 1947, SerialNo. 780,251

This inventionrelates to heat exchangers of the character employed for heat exchange between two or more gases, and its principal object is to increase the efiiciency of heat exchangers 'of this character.

Another object is to provide a heat exchanger suit-able'for high pressure operation and in which there is a true counterflow' of gases and having a high heat transfer capacity and low pressure drop.

Another object is to provide a heat exchanger unit devoid. of'projections beyond the-side of the unit except for inlet and. outlet connections at its ends, thereby permitting the units to be assembled into compact blocks in contact with each other and thereby preventing convection currents around the individual units and securing a minimum bulk and exposed surfaces for banks of units.

Another object is to eliminate the possibility of pass to pass leakage except possibly for small areaswithin the connections.

Another object is to provide novel means for making a permanent connection which functions during the bonding operation'to draw the-connections tightly to the end bars.

Another object is-to eliminate the need for separate casings for either'gas.

Another object is to provide a heat exchanger for efficiently handling two or more gases.

Another object is to provide a simple mechanical assembly of'relatively' fewindividual parts, essentially self-locating and supporting in which the baking of the assembled unit completes the fabrication thereofin a single operation. H ,7

Another object is: to provide a heat exchanger of which the component parts, except the inlet and outlet connections and border frame mem bers, are fabricated from relatively inexpensive sheet or strip stock.

Another object is to provide inlet and outlet connections-so disposed that they adapt themselves to simple manifolding means for an assembly of several banks of units.

Another object is to provide plenum sections at eachend of the passes which also serve as useful supplemental heat transfer surfaces.

Another object is to provide a heat exchanger assembly constructed of a plurality of similar units capable'of efiicient usage in gas separation plants such as oxygen and nitrogen plants.

With these and other objects and advantages in view this invention consists in the several novel features of construction, arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter fully set forth andllClaims. (or. 257-245) therefor more particularly defined in the appended claims. v The invention is clearly illustrated in the drawings accompanying'this specification, in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view' of a heat exchanger assembly employing several banksof units embodying a simple form of the present invention and illustrating manifolding Fig. 2 is a side elevation broken out and partly broken away of a heat exchanger'embod'ying'a simple form of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is'a' diagrammatic view in end elevation of threeunits of the heat exchanger set side by side;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of one of the units partly broken out and partly broken away and illustrating certain heat" transfer members-contained within the unit:

Fig; 5 is an end elevation of the unit seen in Fig. 4, with a pull-out sheet and a" fragment of a separating sheet shown therebelow;

Fig. 6 is an underplan viewpartly broken out of the unit illustrated in Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a horizontal section taken on theline 'l-l of Fig. 4; Y

Fig.8 is a vertical section taken substantially alongthe line '88 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of certain border frame members of the device;

Fig. 10 is'a perspective view illustrating the connection between one of said border frame members and an inlet or outlet connection? Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a modified form of said connection;

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a certain bafile';

Fig. 13 is a plan view partly broken away of a side plate seen in Fig. 4;

Fig. 14 is a f'ragmental perspective view of a certain plenum section;

Fig. 15 is a greatly enlarged detail fragmental vertical cross section illustrating certain heat transfer fins and channel members of certain border frame members; g 7 r Fig. 16 is an under plan view of a fragment of one of the fins seen in Fig; 15;

Fig. '17 is a fragmenta'l vertical section taken on the line ll--l I of Fig. 15';

Fig. 18 is a f'ragmental perspectiveview'of one of the fins seen in Figs. 15 and 'l'l'inclusive; and

Fig.'19 is'a diagrammatic view'illustratingthe method of assembling the border frame members with the inlet and outlet connections.

Referring to said drawings and first to Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, the reference characters-Zlldesignate severalof the present heat exchanger-units with their broad sides placed side by side and arranged in banks, and provided attheir ends with inlet and outlet manifolds which will be described later on in this specification.

The heat exchanger units are substantially identical in construction and each comprises a fabricated elongated rectangular unit composed of alternate slabs of longitudinally extending nested together fin elements 2| (see Figs. 4, 7, and 15 to 18 inclusive), which provide passes for gas of one temperature, and. intermediate rows of lengthwise extending nested together fin elements 2 I providing passes for a gas of a "different temperature. The slabsof finelements are arranged in heat exchange relation with respect to each other. The slabs of fin elements extend lengthwise of the unit from top ,to bottom.

Figs. 4, 5 and 9), eachcompression of two L- shaped sections 30, 30, the long arms 32 of which extend at right angles to the main arms 34 of the L,-shaped sections. Each main arm 34 has also a short arm 33 paralleling the arm 32 and projecting in thesame direction from the arm 34. The endof the arm 32 of each section and the end of 'thelshort arm'33 of the other section are spaced .apartto leavegaps (see Fig. 4) between them thereof as viewed in Figs. 4 and 5', and may be" separated by thin metal sheets 22 and may have side sheets 23 applied to their outer side faces. The fin elements may be channel shaped, as seen in Figs. and 18.

The fin'elements shown are formed from very light gage metal about..004 of an inch thickness, and are made into channel form arranged to be together.v The cross wall 24 of each fin element is slit from side to side to provide alternate and intermediate strip fins 24, 24 and the intermediate strips 24 formed by the slits are struck up into the channel of the fin element, thereby providing strip fins lying in two planes. To prevent the fin elements from overnesting, shoulders I36 are provided on'the side walls, which shoulders project inwardly therefrom to form widened seats or stops for the next adjacent fin element to bear against. The shoulders of adjacent fin members are offset withrespect to each other, so that the transversely toward and to the wider finstrip.

As a preference, the side walls of the fin element are offset outwardly as at 25*, a distance equal to the thickness of the material, whereby the fin elements may nest together with the one fin element seated against the shoulders of the next adjacent fin element, and providing true vertical edge surfaces.

Certain of the strip fins may be struck up on of the plane of the other strip fins, whereby the contact of gas is discontinuous instead of continuous as would be the case if the cross walls were made intact. Furthermore, the gaps at the edges of the strip fins permit the gas to flow laterally from each channel to the next adjacent one thereabove or therebelow.

Y Extending from both ends of the slabs of fin elements are plenum sections 21 preferably composed of corrugated sheets (see also Fig. 14) folded into longitudinally extending oppositely directed channels through which the gas may flow to or from the fin elements as the case may be, and the upper and lower walls of the channels are formed with openings 28, whereby the gas may flow laterally from one channel to the other as well as lengthwise through the channels. Like the fin elements, the plenum sections extend from top to bottom of the unit. The plenum sections or corrugated sheets are provided to resist the high pressures to which a through which gas-may enter or leave the plenum sections whose outer ends are not covered by the long arms 32. The intermediate border frame members are inv erted with respect to the alternate onesso as to bring the gaps of the intermediate border frame members'adjacent to the long arm of the alternate border frame members. In Fig. 5, the upper end shows alternate plenum sections blocked by the long arms 32 of the upper border frame meme bers 3D,;and the lower end shows the intermediate plenum sections blocked by the long arms 32 of the lower border frame members 30. These border frame members bear against the edges of the slabs of fin elements and against the top and bottom edges and the ends of the plenum sections. 1

The arms 32, 33 are formed with outwardly directed lugs or ears 35 which extend through notches 31 in the flanges 36 of the inlet and outlet connections 40, 40, 4|, H and are apertured to receive pins 31 which project from both sides of the lugs or ears 35, and stout springs 38 are interposed between the flanges 36 and the pins 31 and function to draw the inletand outlet connections tightly against the arms 32, 33 of the border frame members during fabrication of the unit. The springs have inclined arms that bear against the flanges and are connected to saddle portions that engage the pins. Each spring is U-shaped as seen in Fig. 10, the two arms thereof being connected by a cross section. Each spring can be readily slipped into place between the flange and pm.

As an alternate method of fastening the border frame members to the inlet and outlet connections, the ears or lugs 35 may be provided with enlarged heads 35 and the U-shaped springs 38 mayengage between the flanges 36 and shoulders 35 of the heads. Instead of the saddle shown in Fig. 10, the springs may have flat portions engaging the shoulders.

Each inlet and outlet connection is formed with a holow block 42 which connects and projects laterally from each pair of flanges 36 and terminates in a flange 42 formed with perforated ears 43 to which aheader pipe may be secured. The flange 42* is preferably cylindrical and the inner face of the block 42 flares outwardly toward the side faces of the block as seen in Fig.7.

same manner.

:border frame member having two diagonally opof the fin elements and the connections. A sheet 22'preferably of less thickness than the outermost sheet 23 is laid in place on the assembly,

and the second set of border frame members is put in place as before, except that they are reversed with respect to the first set so that the gaps will be reversely located with respect to the gaps of the first-laid border frame members.

In like manner, course after course is laid until the other ends of the flanges of the connections are reached and an endmost sheet 23 is then laid on the assembly and held in place by rivets 50 as was the other outermost sheet 23.

The edge-portions of the sheets 22, 23 and flanges of the channel shaped border frame a members 34 may be deformed as at 66 (see Fig.

6) by a suitable tool, whereby to' temporarily lock the sheets and channel shaped members 34 together. 1

It is to be understood that the surfaces of the various members entering into the assembly are coated with bonding material, or where practical thin sheets of bonding materials may be used between the members of the assembly. This is shown in exaggeratedform at 60 in r Fig. 15.

.The assembly is now baked in a suitable baking oven, thereby fusing the bonding material and bonding the several members of the assembly'together. It will be noted that as the bonding material between the inlet and outlet connections and the border frame members melts, the stout springs 38 become coated with the bonding materialand continue to press the connections and bars together, whereby they are firmly bonded tofl'gether to provide an integral unit reenforced by the coated springs.

For handling large volumes of gases, several banks of the units set side by side may be used with the inlet and outlet connections connected *to. suitable inlet and outlet manifolds.

In Fig. 1-are shown several stacks of units set side by side. An inlet manifold 52 and an outlet manifold 53 are provided at each end of the units. ,--In the arrangement shown, the inlet manifold has two branches 54 which are connected to adjacent inlet connections by pipe connections 55. 'I'heinlet manifold at the other end of the assembly is connected to the adjacent inlet connections at the other end of the assembly in the The outlet manifolds 53 each have two branches 56 connected to the outlet connections of the units by pipe connections 51.

It is to be noted that, as shown, the units 20, of

the middle row are inverted, bringing the inlet connections toward the upper sides of the units. Inasmuch as the passes are separated from each other by metal sheets, there is no likeli- 59 between an end unit 20 and a nut 60 threaded 8 onthe tie rod. The other end of the tie rod may be provided with a head 6| to bear against the other end unit. In this case, the lugs 45 may be made slightly narrower than the units, and washers 62 may be inserted between adjacent lugs.

In the operation of the heat exchanger, gas of one temperature is forced through the alternate passes from inlet to outlet and a gas of ahigher or lower temperature is forced through the intermediate passes from inlet to outlet.

Heat from the hotter gas is conducted to the fin elements through which it flows, and from said fin elements the heat is conducted to the fin elements through which the cooler gas is flowing and the heat is absorbed by the cooler gas.

The gas in flowing through the passes, flows longitudinally therethrough and also laterally through the holes in the plenum sections and through the gaps between the fin strips of the fin elements. Consequently, gas entering atthe bottom of a unit discharges at the top thereof.

While I have shown and described the heat exchanger assembly as extending in a horizontal direction this is not necessary as it may extend vertically and operate in the same manner as if placed horizontally.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described or uses mentioned.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a heat exchanger for high pressure applications, alternate and intermediate slabs of fin elements arranged in heat transfer relation, the fin elements of each slab being in communication with each other, two sets of inlet and outlet connections, one set communicating with the alternate slabs of fin elements and one set communicating with the intermediate slabs of fin elements, border frame members surrounding said fin elements and having ports connecting one set of inlet and outlet connections with the alternate slabs of fin elements and other ports connecting the other set of inlet and outlet connections with the intermediate slabs of fin elements, each connection having an inner face abuttingthe adjacent face of the exchanger, and individual means interlocking each connection with each adjacent border frame member, said fin elements, border frame members, connections, and interlocking means being bonded into an integral structure.

2. In a heat exchanger, alternate and intermediate slabs of interlocked fin elements arranged in heat transfer relation to each other and having oppositely disposed overlapping portions, metal sheets extending substantially parallel with and interposed between the adjacent overlapping portions of respective alternate and intermediate fin elements, two sets of inlet and outlet connections, one set communicating with the alternate slabs of fin elements and one set communicating with the intermediate slabs of fin elements, alternate and intermediate border frame members partially surrounding the slabs of fin elements, said border members, fin elements, sheets, and connections being bonded together to form a single integral structure, the alternate border frame members having; gaps-therein. forming ports between one set "of .inlet and outlet ;connections and the alternate finelements, and

the intermediate borderframe members havin gaps therein forming ports *between the other set of inletand outlet connectionsxand the'interalternate slabs ;of fin elements and one set .communicating with the intermediate slabs :of fln elements, alternate and intermediate; border.

frame members partially surrounding the slabs of fin elements, the alternate border-fframe members having gaps therein forming vports between one set of inlet androutlet 'connectionsnndthe alternatefin elements','andzthe intermediate boroer-frame members having gaps therein forming ports between the other set of inlet and outlet;- connections and the intermediatefin elementeh all of said elementslbeingwbonded together to:

form a single integral structure.

4. In a heat exchanger, alternate iandintermediate slabs of interlocked channel-shaped .fin elements each having transversely extending strip fins arranged in two planes, said fin elements being arranged in heat transfer relation to each other, two sets of inlet and outlet connections, one set communicating with'the alternate slabs of fin elements and one set communicating with the intermediate slabs of fin elements, alternate and intermediate border framemembers partially surrounding the slabs of fin elements, the alternate border'frame members having gaps therein forming ports between oneseto'f inlet and-outlet connections and the alternate-fin elements, and the intermediate border frame membershavinggaps therein forming ports. between theiother set of inlet and outlet'connections and theintermediate fineler'nents, all ofsaidelements being bonded together to form a singleintegralastructuref i 5. A heatexchanger comprising alternate-and intermediate slabs of interlocked channel"sh ped fin elements,- two sets of inlet-and outletaconnections, one set for the alternate fin elements and one set for the intermediate ones, alternate and intermediate L-shaped border frame members surrounding theslabs of fin elements and secured to the connections, there being gaps between thesections of the.alternate border-frame members through which fluid noay flow to and from alternate slabs of fin members, and said intermediate border frame members having bars blocking the entrance to the intermediate fin elements, said connections each abutting the adjacent bars, said fin elements, frame members, and connections all being bonded together to form a single integral structure.

6, A heat exchanger comprising alternate and intermediate slabs of interlocked channel shaped fin elements, separating sheets interposed between each pair of adjacent slabs, and a cover sheet for each outer slab, two sets of inlet and outlet connections, one set for the alternate fin elements and one set for the intermediate ones, border frame members positioned between the respective sheets and surrounding each of the slabs of fin elements and secured to the connections, there being gaps between the sections of the border frame members through which fluid may-flow to and from alternateslabs .of. fin mem-. bers, and the intermediate slabs of finmembelfsv being closed to said .set of inlet and outlet connections but in open communication, w h the other set of inlet and-outletconnections, all'ofsaid elements being bonded togetherinto a single,

unit .with the respective iramemembers form-- ing the side walls of-the respective Slabs whereby the joints betweenzsa d sheets and ach f saidjframe members extendzto theexterior of the.

exchanger. I

7. In. a heat exchanserl a plurali y o s ate of passesarranged in heat transfer relaticnzto;

each other, border frame members having gaps therein for corresponding slabs of passes, and sets of inlet and outlet connections abutting said frame, members at said gaps, .and'means inter- 7 locking the respective connections with each of the adiacentframemembers, allof-said elements being bonded. into 1'9. single integral structure.

8- In a hea exchan er th combination of a plurality ofiabricated slab of lon itu ina ly extending, interlocked fin elements, arran ed one upon the ,othergarseparator sheet interposed between each respective pairof adjacent slabs. .a cover sheet for'each of the two outer slabs, individual border framemembers-foreach slab posi.-.

tioned between adjacent sheets andforming the outer side walls. of the exchanger, the latter have inglan inlet and; outlet-therein respectively communicating withza plurality of spacedslabs'and providing meanszforthe entry-and exit of fluid.

through saidslabspsaid exchanger havinga sec-,

ondinlet: and a second outlettherein respectively;

communicating with other .of:.lsaid slabs adjacent toand in heatitrans'fer relation with "the first roup of slabs, each. group ofslabs being blocked:

adjacent the inlet; and-outlet. of. the other group of slabs. all of saidelements "being rbondedzto ether to form ':a single integral structure with the joints between saidsheetsiandjframe members extending to the. exterior of the exchanger.

9. In a heat exchanger,- the combination of aplurality of elongated relatively thinislabs of .lon gitudinally extending, interlocked fin- :elements, each .slab .constitutingafluid pass, a separator sheet interposed between each respective pair 1 of adjacent slabsia cover sheet for'each of the respective outer slabs, said -sheets being longer and :widertthan-said slabs to extend beyond the ends and nideso'f thelatter, a-pair'of plenum sections .for .each': slab respectively disposedyb etween the-adjacent-sheets at -opposite ends- 0f the respective-slabs, the :height of each' p'lenum section being substantiallyequal to the thickness of its associatedslab, individual border frame members for each slab positioned betweenthesheets adjacent the latter and adapted to operatively enclose such slab and its associated plenum sections, said exchanger having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet therein respectively communicating with the plenum sections of a plurality of spaced slabs to provide means for the entry and exit of fluid through said slabs, said exchanger having a second fluid inlet and a sec- 11 all of said elements being bonded together to. form a single integral structure.

10. In a fluid pass for heat exchangers comprising alternate and intermediate slabs of fin elements, each of said slabs comprising the combination of a plurality of fin elements, each comprising an elongated strip of relatively thin metal longitudinally folded along spaced, parallel lines to form a channel-shaped structure having oppositely disposed co-extensive side walls extending in substantially parallel planes, each side wall being ofiset outwardly intermediate its edges, approximately the thickness of the material employed, to provide longitudinally extending edge portions positioned in substantially parallel planes, between which a like, similarly positioned fin element may be inserted, the intermediate wall connecting said side walls having a plurality of substantially uniformly spaced, parallel slits therein extending substantially from one side wall to the other to form a plurality of individual strip fins, each fin extending from side wall to side wall. alternate fins being deformed at their junctures with the side walls out of the plane of the other fins, with all of said alternate fins substantially lying in a common plane extending parallel to the plane of said other fins, and means formed from the side walls at spaced points therealong extending inwardly to form the said ofisets providing shoulders aligned with said ofi'sets upon which a like fin element may seat to maintain the fins of the latter in spaced relation with the fins of the former, said fin elements being assembled in interlocked relation, with each succeeding fin element having portions of its side walls intermediate the fins associated therewith and the ofisets positioned between the offset portions or the preceding fin element to .form an internally finned slab, means for operatively closing the open ends of the slab thus formed, metal sheets overlying the top and bottom of the latter andsaid closure means, and inlet and outlet meansyassociated .withsaid alternate and intermediate slabs and communicating with the ends of the latter, said fin elements, closure means, sheets and inlet and outlet means being bonded into an integral unit.

11. In a fluid pass for heat exchangers comprising alternate and intermediate slabs of fin elements, eachof said slabs comprising the combination of a plurality of fin elements, each comprising an elongated striprof relatively thin metal longitudinally folded along spaced, parallel lines to form a channel-shaped structure having oppositely disposed co-extensive side walls extending in substantially parallel planes. each side wall being oil'set outwardly intermediate its edges, ap-,

proximately the thickness of the material employed, to provide longitudinally extending edge portions positioned in substantially parallel planes, between which alike, similarly positioned fin element may be inserted, the intermediate wall connecting said side walls having a plurality of spaced, substantially parallel slits therein extending substantially from one side wall to the other to form a plurality of individual strip fins, each fin extending from side wall to side wall, certain of said fins being deformed at their junctures with theside walls out of the plane of the other fins, with all of said fins substantially lying in parallel planes, said fin elements being assembled in interlocked relation, with each succeeding fin element having portions of its side walls intermediate the fins associated therewith and the offsets positioned between the ofiset portions of the preceding fin element to form an internally finned slab, means for operatively closing the open ends of the slab thus formed, metal sheets overlying the top and bottom of the latter and said closure means, and inlet and outlet means associated with said alternate and intermediate slabs and communicating with the ends of the latter, said fin elements, closure means, sheets and inlet and outlet means being bonded into an integral unit.

CLYDE S. SIMPELAAR,

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 213,635 Drache Mar. 25, 1897 811,853 Lamplough Feb. 6, 1906 837,146 Theryc et al Nov. 27, 1906 1,409,967 Prat Mar. 21, 1922 1,638,107 Whiton Aug. 9, 1927 1,644,298 Ledbetter Oct. 4, 1927 1,679,517 Fedders Aug. 7, 1928 1,680,673 Fedders Aug. 14, 1928 1,688,147 Levron Oct. 16, 1928 1,770,936 Mantle July 22, 1930 1,775,103 Hume Sept. 9, 1930 1,820,925 Toncray Sept. 1, 1931 2,426,536 Vanderweil Aug. 26, 1947 2,439,208 Gloyer Apr. 6, 1948 2,462,421 Pitt Feb. 22, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 26,073 Great Britain of 1902 575,924 France Aug. 8, 1924 

